September 22
“The Power of Covenants”  When small groups of people come together, big things can happen. Linda Rector, Shannon Sonoras, and Amanda Van Regenmorter, members of UUFoM covenant groups, will share their experiences about participating in these groups and the positive impact this has on their lives, their work, and their various communities.

For upcoming Sunday Services, click here.

A luncheon is planned for Sunday, September 29, in celebration of our commitment to the upcoming year.  The Engagement Team will be providing a main dish of pulled pork, while Estella Thomas will provide vegetarian stir fry.  Below are some of the available items we would like to provide during our potluck. 

Please sign up here! 

Salads - Tossed Salad, Dairy-Free Salad, Gluten-Free Salad, Nut-Free Salad

Desserts - Cookies, Dairy-Free Dessert, Gluten-Free Dessert, Nut-Free Dessert

Lemonade

Please sign up here to volunteer!

On Friday, September 27 through Saturday, September 28, UUFoM will be hosting Our Whole Lives (OWL) Facilitator Training.  During that time, the entire building will be closed to meetings and members.  If you have any questions, please contact Wendy Altmeier.

We can be most fully and completely present in our religious identity when we see our path as a continuum rather than a series of unrelated episodes. Whether you are a life-long Unitarian Universalist or a relative newcomer, come explore how your experiences of any faith community, school or club from your past helped shape your spirituality. This workshop provides simple tools to help us re-examine and retrieve positive aspects of past religious connections.

This FREE workshop consists of five 90-minute sessions, offered on Thursday OR Friday evenings, led by Eric Severson and Elspeth Hetrick. The dates will be decided based on participant availability and interest. When you sign up, please indicate which day (Thursdays or Fridays) you would be available from among these dates: 
 

• Thursdays (October 10, 17, 24, November 7 and 14 -- no meeting on Halloween) or 
• Fridays (Oct 11, 18, 25, Nov 1 and 15 -- no meeting on November 8).

Books culled from the UUFoM Library are available for free will donations. They are located on a table near the events board.  Stop and Shop!

Fall Clean-Up for the UUFoM Building and Grounds
Saturday October 12 
Morning shift:  9:00am - 12:00pm
Afternoon shift:  1:00pm - 4:00pm 

There are  two work shifts available. You can sign up for either or both shifts. There will be a Building & Grounds Team meeting during lunch, 12:00-1:00pm. All are welcome to attend the meeting.  

What work is planned for the Fall Clean-Up?  The key work to be done involves various aspects of the grounds and making our Fellowship a better place. Depending on response, we plan to focus on the areas listed below. If no one signs up for a focus group, that job may not get done this time around. So if you want to see it done, join the fun. 

Focus work groups: 
1. The Playground and play structures. These are the areas used by children from our community. Replace the landscaping weed barriers: remove weeds, move large amounts of gravel, replace the weed barriers, then put the gravel back over the weed barrier.

In addition, our Sexton, Sandy Hay, has volunteered to improve the wooden play structures by driving in nails and screws that have become hazards. 

If this is your desired focus, sign up, bring yard and hand tools to help. 

2. The Vegetable Garden on the north side. Remove dead plants in preparation for winter. 

3. The Memorial Garden. General weeding and cleanup is needed. This is a sacred space.

4. Trash removal and picking up sticks. No special skills required, just a need for general cleanup. 

5. General trimming and weeding of the landscaped areas at the driveway, Fellowship sign and building entryway. 

6. Gutter and roof cleaning.  Remove debris from the roof of the building.  Acrophobics need not apply!

7. Finally, we would like to remove some of the Buckthorn plants that are invading our grounds. As the name implies, they are very sharp and thorny! 

Sign up for one or more of the above groups.  

Please plan to bring yard tools, personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and safety glasses.

Bring snacks, a sack lunch, water bottles and weather-appropriate clothing. The building will be open for restrooms and cold water.

Pasties will be available on Sunday, September 22. 
Click here to place your order to purchase traditional (beef and pork mix) or vegetarian (lentils with olive and sesame seed oil) pasties for $5 each!

Visit our website for more information about pledging!

The pledge campaign to support our UUFoM 2020 budget has begun! An introductory email was sent in August, and the pledge packet was emailed earlier this week—make sure to read these important communications.  Here’s how the timeline will look:
 
Early in September, the pledge packet email was sent out.  It contained information about the proposed budget, giving guidelines, and a pledge form for you to fill out online or print, complete and turn in.  Like last year, we will need all members to return a pledge form, even if your financial circumstances don’t allow you to make a financial commitment to the Fellowship for next year.
 
By September 15, you should have been contacted by one of our Conversation Stewards to have a discussion.  If you want to have a conversation but have NOT been contacted by then, please reach out to Janelle Dombek at [email protected] and she’ll make sure that you get one.
 
On September 29, Commitment Sunday, we’ll need all pledge forms to be turned in.  And on that date, we’ll celebrate with a big luncheon, a performance by our very own Sound Explorers, and an introduction of candidates for next year’s Board.

Current Members

Chair: Catherine Young
Co-chair: Linda Rector
Members at large: Judy Donahue, Linda Bozzelli, Jean Sarantos, Michaele Malecki, Roxanne LaForest

The Welcome Team meets every quarter following Sunday service.  The purpose of the Welcome Team is to welcome visitors to services, act as hosts during their visit and provide answers to any questions they may have. The team also elicits information from visitors, offering them the opportunity to receive further communications from the Fellowship. Volunteered visitor information is recorded in a log book.

If you are interested in joining the team, please contact Catherine Young at [email protected].

We collect donations on an ongoing basis for the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network.  Sixty-seven items were donated recently!  Place your donations in one of the bins outside the sanctuary, and we will transport them to the Food Pantry. Non-perishable foods, self-care items, paper products and cleaning supplies are accepted.  Thank you!

Midland Area Interfaith Friends is hosting a picnic on Sunday, September 22, 4:00-6:00pm at Chapel Lane Presbyterian Church, Midland MI.  Bring a dish to pass. Utensils, plates, and glasses will be provided. Be prepared to play games, have fun, and get to know each other better!

The Midland Area LWV's 2019-2020 Kickoff Meeting will be held Tuesday, September 24, 7:00-9:00pm at Creative 360.  Chloe Updegraff, the Great Lakes Bay Area 2020 Census Coordinator,  will speak about the 2020 Census, its importance and how we can help.  Refreshments will be served.  Please join us to hear Chloe and learn about our upcoming programs.


Judy Donahue, Midland LWV Program Chair

Pests are trying to invade the Fellowship!  Please do not leave any open food packages or containers on the kitchen counters or anywhere else in the Fellowship building.  Before you leave the building, please take any trash containing food waste to the large trash bin outside the back door.